End member, photoreceptor drum unit, developing roller unit, and process cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10012951-B2
Application number	US-201715402761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2017
Priority date	Jul 10, 2014
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

An end member ( 30 ) comprises: a tubular bearing member ( 40 ); and a shaft member ( 50 ), wherein the shaft member comprises: a shaft-like rotating shaft ( 51 ) which is disposed coaxially to the bearing member, and moves in the shaft line direction by rotating around a shaft line with respect to the bearing member; and a tip end member ( 55 ) which is disposed coaxially to the rotating shaft, and where a rotating force receiving member ( 58 ) provided with an engaging member ( 60 ) which engages with a driving shaft ( 70 ) of the image forming apparatus main body is disposed at a tip end, wherein a rotating force around the shaft line is transmitted to the rotating force receiving member, the rotating shaft, and the bearing member, in this order, and the rotating force receiving member moves to be inclined with respect to the shaft line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An end member which is disposed in an end portion of a columnar rotating body mounted on an image forming apparatus main body, the end member comprising:
a tubular bearing member; and
a shaft member held by the tubular bearing member,
wherein the shaft member comprises:
a rotating shaft which is disposed coaxially to the tubular bearing member, and which moves in a shaft line direction by rotating around a shaft line with respect to the tubular bearing member; and
a tip end member which is disposed coaxially to the rotating shaft,
wherein the shaft member is further provided with a tip end member elastic member, a rotating shaft elastic member, and a pin,
wherein a rotating force receiving member comprising an engaging member which engages with a driving shaft of the image forming apparatus main body is disposed at a tip end of the tip end member, and
wherein a rotating force around the shaft line is transmitted to the rotating force receiving member, the rotating shaft, and the bearing member, in this order, and the rotating force receiving member moves to be inclined with respect to the shaft line.

2. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating shaft and/or the tip end member move in the shaft line direction regardless of the rotation around the shaft line of the shaft member.

3. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein a range where the rotating force receiving member moves to be inclined with respect to the shaft line is larger than 0° and equal to or smaller than 18°.

4. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein a range where the rotating force receiving member moves to be inclined with respect to the shaft line is larger than 0° and equal to or smaller than 10°.

5. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the engaging member comprises an inclined surface inclined to the shaft line direction or a curved surface.

6. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein a recessed portion with which the driving shaft is engaged is formed in the engaging member.

7. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein a part formed in a spiral shape is contained on an inner surface of the tubular bearing member, wherein a member which moves inside the part formed in the spiral shape is included in the rotating shaft, and wherein the rotating shaft moves in the shaft line direction by rotating around the shaft line with respect to the tubular bearing member.

8. A photoreceptor drum unit comprising a photoreceptor chum which is a columnar rotating body; and the end member according to claim 1 which is disposed in at least one end portion of the photoreceptor chum.

9. A process cartridge comprising:
a housing; and
the photoreceptor drum unit according to claim 8 which is held by the housing.

10. A developing roller unit comprising a developing roller which is a columnar rotating body; and the end member according to claim 1 which is disposed in at least one end portion of the developing roller.

11. A process cartridge comprising:
a housing; and
the developing roller unit according to claim 10 which is held by the housing.

12. The end member according to claim 1 , wherein the tip end member elastic member and the rotating shaft elastic member form a coiled spring.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Chem Corp

Inventors

• Ikeda Shuichi
• Matsuoka Yohei

Classifications

• G03G21/1647

  Mechanical connection means · CPC title

• G03G15/751

  relating to drum (G03G15/757 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G21/1857 Primary

  for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms · CPC title

• F16C13/06

  self-adjusting · CPC title

• F16C2370/38

  Electrographic apparatus · CPC title